ARTS, BRIEFLY; Prize for Phylicia Rashad

By FELICIA R. LEE

Published: February 8, 2011

Phylicia Rashad will receive the lifetime achievement award at the 19th annual Pan African Film Festival, officials said on Monday. The festival, which will take place in Los Angeles Feb. 16 to 23, showcases films by and about people from the African diaspora. This year's a lineup includes more than 120 films representing more than 30 countries.

''She is a modern-day griot,'' Ayuko Babu, the festival's executive director and co-founder said of Ms. Rashad. ''Over the years she has had parts that give insight into who we are, from August Wilson's 'Gem of the Ocean' to 'The Cosby Show.' She speaks to us and lets the world know who we are, on a high intellectual level and on an emotional level. Black folks across the world have a lot of respect for her.''

Past recipients of the achievement award, to be presented to Ms. Rashad on Feb. 17 at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, have included Louis Gossett Jr., Della Reese, Marla Gibbs and Glynn Turman. The festival begins with an opening night gala on Feb. 16 at the Culver Plaza Theater, featuring the premiere of the film ''35 and Ticking,'' written and directed by the syndicated radio host Russ Parr. The film is a romantic comedy about a group of people in their 30s and has an ensemble cast that includes Mike Epps, Nicole Ari Parker, Tamala Jones and Kevin Hart. The gala is to be hosted by the actor Nate Parker (''Blood Done Sign My Name'').

This year's festival offers 75 feature-length films (narrative and documentary) and 46 short films, with various prizes and awards voted on by audiences. On five mornings, hundreds of public and private middle- and high school students from Los Angeles County will be treated to free screenings.

''Here, you get a little bit of our story from everywhere, whether it's Harlem or Haiti,'' Mr. Babu said of the festival's offerings from many countries, including the United States, Nigeria, Canada, Ghana, Ethiopia and South Africa. ''Unfortunately, other film festivals just pick out a few films from these places and you don't get a chance to see the whole broad spectrum. You can look at our films from Kenya or Egypt this year and come away with greater insight into some of the political and cultural conflicts there.''

This is a more complete version of the story than the one that appeared in print.